StGeorge & StRueiss @StGRChurch

On the blessed Feast of the Cross, we proclaim that suffering does not have the final word, darkness cannot overcome light, and death has been conquered by Life. “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14 “By the Cross we know the Resurrection.” St Athanasius The Cross is our sign of victory and our source of hope. In a wounded and divided world, may we carry its message of sacrificial love, reconciliation and a promised and hope-filled life.

“Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9) Today we commemorate the triumphal entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, and reflect that our victorious King must not remain external; He enters, heals, orders, and sanctifies, bringing the soul into alignment with the will of the Father, both in Jerusalem and our own hearts, for as Saint Cyril of Alexandria reminds us, “He who is by nature Lord becomes our servant, that He may draw us into communion with Himself.” A blessed and joyous #PalmSunday to you all!

Thank you Toronto and Mississauga for a remarkable 48 hours of ministry around the theme of “Integrity”. “He who walks with integrity walks securely…” Proverbs 10:9 ‘The life of Christians is not distinguished by outward profession, but by the soul’s integrity’ Saint Athanasius

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Thank you so much, Sayedna! A true blessing to have you with us! We can’t wait to see you again soon!

Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos

a year ago

A beautiful liturgy at @StGRChurch this morning with the wonderful task of officially opening their festival and meeting the lovely children’s choir. Then to St Moses and St Katherine for a meeting with this dynamic mission based ministry.

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Today, we commemorate the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, who wrote the second Gospel, first preached Christianity to Egypt, and founded the Coptic Orthodox Church. In the words of Thomas Oden in his book ‘African Christianity’, “Out of [Saint] Mark’s life and death came the enduring gift to the world of African Christianity” A blessed Feast of Saint Mark to all.

Today, the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the great Saint George. “They could not change his mind, nor his upright Faith, nor his great love, for Christ the King” Coptic Doxology Let us likewise aspire to being upright in thought and Faith, and endeavour to be faithful in all we do. A blessed and joyous Feast of Saint George to all.

#LentJourney2025 Day 50 Monday of Holy Pascha “Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves” Mark 11:12-13 The issue was never that the tree was ‘without fruit’, but that it deceptively gave the appearance of being ‘with fruit’.

#LentJourney2025 Day 45 “…with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10 ‘It is better for one to be silent and be a Christian than to talk and not be one….We believe with the heart and confess with the mouth; the one unto righteousness, the other unto salvation. It is good to teach, if the teacher also does what is taught’ Ignatius of Antioch

#LentJourney2025 Day 43 “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38 It is inspiring to see the humility of the Theotokos, for although it was just announced to her that she would be the mother of God, she commits herself as His handmaid.

#LentJourney2025 Day 42 “They answered and said to him, ‘You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?’” John 9:34 The man born blind was called to give testimony time and again, and we see him grow in confidence with each account. That is what the presence of God does in our lives. As we experience His work in our lives, we become more emboldened to speak the truth.

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#LentJourney2025 Day 41 “…blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Mark 10:46-47 When you need the Lord, shout, and if you need to overcome everything that tries to silence you, shout louder.

#LentJourney2025 Day 31 “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilise it.’” Luke 13:8 Our Lord wants to afford us every opportunity and chance to redeem ourselves, even if He has to make much of the effort…we would do well to do the same with and for one another.

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#LentJourney2025 Day 30 “The Pharisees therefore said to [Jesus], ‘You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true’” John 8:13 There is a difference between bearing witness of ourselves, and bearing witness to the wondrous work of God in and through us. We must never overestimate our own work, or underestimate His.

#LentJourney2025 Day 27 “There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit” Matthew 21:33-34 God entrusts us with much by making every provision for us to be fruitful, but then requires a return, not for Himself, but so that it may be used to serve, and be shared with, the world.

#LentJourney2025 Day 25 “…he cried out, saying, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Luke 18:38-39 Some will try to stifle our cries for help, but God is always listening. Cry out louder.

#LentJourney2025 Day 16 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed’” John 8:32 True discipleship is about abiding, not being merely transient; it is about spending time listening, learning and applying what has been learned.

#LentJourney2025 Day 14 Temptation Sunday “Again, the devil took [Jesus] up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!’” Matthew 4:8-9 1. There is no single point or place along life’s journey from which we can see everything. 2. No one can promise, let alone give, everything. 3. Satan actually has nothing to give but empty promises. 4. We have the authority to order Satan away.

#LentJourney2025 Day 11 “Jesus said to [the rich young man], ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” Matthew 19:21-22 Having ‘great possessions’ of any sort is not the problem; it is what we do with them, and, more importantly, often not being able to let go of them.

#LentJourney2025 Day 8 “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…” Romans 1:22 ‘For having some great conceit of themselves, and not enduring to go the way which God had commanded them, they were plunged into the reasonings of senselessness.’ John Chrysostom

#LentJourney2025 Day 6 “[Our heavenly Father] makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? …Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:45-48 ‘Since He calls us to adoption as [children] through the only begotten Son Himself, He calls us also to His own likeness” Augustine of Hippo